Dudley Perkins (lootpack, Stonesthrow)

You might know Dudley Perkins as an essential player in the west coast 805 hip hop crew that brought you the likes of Lootpack, Quasimoto, Wildchild, Oh No and M.E.D. A rapper since 1987, Dudley debuted (as Declaime) a few years later on The Alkaholiks’ second album for Loud, followed in 1999 by his infamous appearances on the seminal Soundpieces: Da Antidote! album by Oxnard homeboys Lootpack in 1999. It was around then that he and Madlib were messing around in the studio and came up with “Flowers” – an unusual track about Dudley’s love affair with sticky green trees. Eventually, Stones Throw CEO Peanut Butter Wolf heard the now-legendary, ever-popular melody and insisted on releasing it on a limited-edition 7-inch to surprisingly great results. “A very early Erykah Badu on acid” (Muzik Magazine, 2003)…? Maybe. Critics fumbled for adjectives and comparisons to describe the utterly unique vocal presence of a rapper who can’t quite sing, but whose tunes are nonetheless as catchy and certainly as sincere as any contemporaries in the R&B field. Dudley’s full-length debut on Stones Throw Records, A Lil’ Light (2003), showcased his cracked-up singing style over the most melancholy yet raw beats around the underground – produced entirely by the maestro Madlib. The sophomore Dudley Perkins album is due to drop in early 2006 – tentatively entitled Expressions. He continues the plaintive, introspective soul-searching – as well as his trademark lamentations over the bleak future for mankind. As always, his search for goodness and truth is balanced by a robust celebration of the good life – the booty life and the weed life. But expect even funkier dance-floor singles this time around – and even more melodious arrangements from Madlib, who again handles all production duties. Mr. Perkins’ latest material suggests an ever-honing instinct for working his twisted melodies around the deepest ‘Lib soul beats – having life-or-death backseat conversations amongst the bass, strings, horns, keys and the listener.